IPL5: Crowd support in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 amazes Azhar Mahmood – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Punjab-c833, is amazed by the crowd support in IPL5 matches.
Mahmood, who is glad to be back in India, in a telephonic interview to Gulf News, said, “I played in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 for the first time the other day and the crowd was amazing. I have always loved playing cricket here.”
Punjab’s IPL campaign got a boost with the inclusion of Mahmood. The 37-year-old, who is now a British citizen, missed the earlier part of the IPL5 session because of passport issues.
However, the all-rounder is determined to make up for the lost time. Mahmood has scored 43 runs in the two matches which he has played for Punjab, who overcame the mighty Mumbai Indians in their last fixture.
Mahmood, who is nearing the end of his cricketing career, feels that IPL is a great opportunity for players, who are past their glory days, to play competitive cricket.
The 37-year-old cricketer from Rawalpindi said, “It's a great opportunity. There are a lot of above-35 players like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sourav-Chandidas-Ganguly-c90746 but it's some really quality cricket being played out there. Some may think it's
a matter of 20 overs only but it takes a lot of our body... you have to be on your toes for all those 240 deliveries.”
When asked whether IPL has changed the mindset of youngsters in India, as they prefer to play in the lucrative league instead of donning the national colours.
Mahmood said, “I am not too sure if any kid can actually choose to prefer it over country, as that's the ultimate honour.”
The all-rounder further said that players are encouraged to take part in IPL more because the first-class set-up does not offer enough cash for players, which in the end matters a lot in a cricketer's short career.
No cricketer from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 is taking part in the IPL; even Mahmood has been allowed to participate because of his British passport. But despite this fact, the all-rounder believes that there is no restriction on professionals from
Pakistanis in IPL and has urged the PCB to look into the matter if that is the case.
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